The Reel Life of Real Life

I really wanted to see this while it was in the cinema but for some disappointing reason I never got to it. However, I have finally seen it. And it was so worth the wait‼ Starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything, in a nutshell, tells the story of Stephen and Jane Hawking. This is an amazing film. It really is. Eddie Redmayne is fantastic as Stephen Hawking. He gave off a real innocence and humbleness which was wonderful. I loved the earlier scenes when he and Jane were first getting to know each other, for example the ‘winding back the clock’ scene. That was probably one of my favourites. It’s shaping the entire theme that ultimately carries through the entirity of the film, but also portraying the innocence between them, the friendship in its simplicity and I really like that. I loved the dialogue. I also love the scenes between Stephen and his college room mate, Brian. I loved the relationship between those two. Throughout the film, it was w...

I wanted to watch this film since I haven't seen a silent movie before, and I just adore the fashion and mannerisms of people in that time. I’d read the wikipedia information on it before watching it, which I think helped me understand the story, which made me enjoy the film more. The film takes place from 1927 – 1932. We are introduced to silent movie star, George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin). Enthusastic fan Peppy Miller (played by Bérénice Bejo), litterally bumps into Valentin while he is posing for cameras. He plays along graciously. The following day, Peppy’s photo appears in the paper as people ask “Who’s That Girl?” and Peppy decides to audition for a dancing bit-part at the studio. Peppy slowly rises through the industry, and as the talking-pictures are introduced, Valentin’s world begins to be turned upside down… Directed by Michel Hazanavicious. I can’t say after watching this I’m a tremendous fan of the silent era but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this ...

Jennifer Grey plays Baby, a seventeen year old out spoken girl with ambitions of changing the world and making it a better place. In the summer of 1963 she is on holidays with her family at Catskills resort. All appears very innocent, very mundane, until Baby is meets Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), a dance instructor at the resort, and she is introduced to their world. After Johnny’s dance partner, Penny, has becomes pregnant and suffers a botched abortion, and is unable to dance, Baby steps in as Johnny’s partner.Of course in time their affections towards one another begin to blossom…But not without plenty of drama along the way. I have yet to meet a person (well, girl, I guess I should say) who doesn't like this film. It’s a classic. Whatever about the story line, the soundtrack was a humongous success! Songs such as “I’ve Had The Time of My Life”, “Hungry Eyes”, “She’s Like The Wind” were nearly responsible for karaoke! – A classic. The film received an Academy Award f...

Johnathan, a hapless retail worker (played by Anthony McCarthy), who designs mannequins, stumbles upon one of his own creations some time after making her only to experience her coming to life! Her name is Emmy (Kim Catrall). She helps him create fantastic shop window displays, thus helping him to gain respect from those around him. Predictably, a romance thusly blossoms between the pair but it isn’t without plenty of hiccups along the way… I really like this movie. It’s an enjoyable watch. There’s something very endearing about Johnathan’s character that makes the audience really route for him. Emmy is very care-free, perhaps a little naive, but no matter. There’s an innocence to her that’s also endearing. Hollywood (played by Meshach Taylor), another quite eccentric window designer, is a great character too. You just have to smile, if even crack a laugh at his dramatics! Sure, the plot is perhaps very predictable but it really doesn’t matter! It’s the journey in between ...

Five secondary school students who would not normally seek out each other’s company have to spend a Saturday together in detention: Brian “the geek” (Anthony Michael Hall), Alison “the basket-case” (Ally Sheedy), Andy “the jock” (Emilio Estevez), John Bender “the jerk” (Judd Nelson) and Claire “the prom queen” (Molly Ringwald). Directed by John Hughes. The film is very much revolved around the characters and the conversations they share throughout the film. The story is told almost completely through their dialogue. I’d have thought this could mean the pace would slow at times but not at all, it works really well here. In ways it allows the audience relate to the characters more, I think. There's a likability about each of them. They begin the film at each other’s throats, but eventually loosen up during a pot smoking session and realise they have more in common than they first assumed. - This is brilliance of the film really, I think: this underlining message of stereot...

Christine (Alison Lohman) is an eager loan officer, dreaming of a promotion at her bank. When a mysterious old woman is denied an extension on her loan repayments she places a curse on Christine, who then spends three days being terrorized by a demon. Directed by Sam Raimi. For the opening (or “prologue” if you will) I’m happy to inform you that I did get a fright… But after a minute I was like, “ok, what the f*** am I watching?” I guess because it was happening to a little boy made it more horrifying. Plus the music didn’t help come the credits…! What I liked about it though was it got you pretty much from the get-go. I love horror movies that do that.  And in general it kept this up right the way through. The tension was built quite adequately. The scene with the old woman appearing in the car park scared the crap out of me. (excuse my phrasing) I was watching this film in the dark (for once!) so that made the big fright moment worse I think. More fun though! The t...

Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) is a depressed and frumpish young woman, completely dominated by her heartlessly selfish mother (Gladys Cooper). She is introduced to Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains) who persuades her to come to his sanatorium to be treated and helped. By the time she is well enough to leave the treatment, she is now an elegant and confident woman. She goes on a cruise and falls in love with kind and attentive Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid), despite the fact he is already married. However, when she returns home, her refusal to comply with her mother’s desires, so infuriates her mother and Charlotte must fight to claim her independence.  I don’t really remember what exactly made me interested in watching this initially. In the beginning of this movie, I wasn’t particularly engaged with the characters, or the dialogue. While black and white movies don’t usually phase me in the slightest, I found myself unable to slip into the story as seamlessly as I have done with o...

One particular Thursday in a railway station café in Milford, Laura, a housewife (played by Celia Johnson), meets Alec, a doctor (played by Trevor Howard). They meet again by chance, and again until a friendship blossoms. Despite the fact they are both already married, they inevitably and quite unwittingly fall in love with each other and continue to meet, though knowing the whole thing is impossible under the circumstances. The film was directed by David Lean, and based on a 1936 one act play named "Still Life" which was written by Noel Coward. I really, really like this movie! Even if it is a kind of bittersweet one. I love the simplicity of the plot. There’s something really quite romantic about it. It’s so subtle and innocent and centered purely around the characters. I love all the characters too. Even the ones that aren’t central to the plot. The people we see in the café have some good lines now and again that made me smile and their personalities are engagi...